Does Skype really suck as much as I think it does now? Edit: Fixed.

[Eug]

OK, I'm trying to do video calling from iOS to Android and vice versa. I usually just do FaceTime on iOS, but do have a Skype account.

A relative just bought a Samsung tablet. I haven't used Skype in years, but I figured I'd just be able to fire up Skype and call him like I've always done before with other people.

Skype to Skype is supposed to be free, but there is no way for me to add a Skype account without a phone number? What? Thinking it might just be my iOS version, I loaded up Skype on my Mac, and same thing. I can't add a Skype account without a corresponding phone number.

When did this happen? Bigger question is why? Most of my Skype contacts have no phone number, and my own Skype account has no phone number either, yet I can log in just fine.

Assuming this is now a limitation of Skype and not just me doin it rong, what are some good alternatives for cross platform video calling? ooVoo?

 

[lopri]

It is possible that Skype "upgraded" itself and tied its service to phone numbers. The reasons are most likely for the benefit of Skype at the cost of users' ______ (insert convenience, privacy, expenses, etc.)

This is why I prefer to have the ability of sideloading applications. I have had my share of surprises when apps update themselves so that only "grandfathered" devices can use previous available content or functionality that no longer works on new versions and/or on new devices. Corporate greed knows no bounds.

 

[JAG87]

On skype for mac:

Contacts menu, Add Contact, search by account name, right click, Add to Contacts

Works for me

 

[Eug]

You can "sideload" Skype on a Mac but the currently downloadable version has the exact same behaviour.

And I believe on Windows the application updates itself at launch, according to some online posts.

 

[Eug]

On skype for mac:

Contacts menu, Add Contact, search by account name, right click, Add to Contacts

Works for me

Hmmm. Working for me now. Wasn't before.

False alarm.

 

[cronos]

Have you tried Hangouts?

 

[tvdang7]

I use hangouts.

 

[McWatt]

Video quality is noticeably lower and lag is noticeably higher on Google Hangouts, in my experience, especially in trans-Atlantic connections.

 

[zokudu]

While I've never had issues adding contacts I'm finding more and more that the chat functionality of Skype is spotty at best. This is the reason they swapped from a peer to peer network to backend servers at some point last year but I see no benefit. I still don't get notifications on my phone.

 

[JAG87]

Skype for iOS is a huge mess.

 

[openwheel]

don't use iOS. Problem solved.

 

[JAG87]

don't use iOS. Problem solved.

So for one app that is badly coded I need to ditch an entire OS AND device? Yea, that seems like a good idea. If I did that every time then I wouldn't be using any computing devices at all.

 

[cpacini]

Video quality is noticeably lower and lag is noticeably higher on Google Hangouts, in my experience, especially in trans-Atlantic connections.

That's why I stopped using hangouts in favor of Skype a while back, not sure if it's any better now